When given the chance to take command of a playoff series, they can’t give it back. On Tuesday night, they didn’t.

George Hill scored 26 points and Paul George had 18 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists, leading the Pacers past the New York Knicks 93-82 and to within one win of their first conference finals appearance since 2004.

“We wanted it,” George said. “For us to come out with that edge, still, after being up 2-1 and being on our floor for Game 4, for us to be up and ready and have an edge to play, it just speaks to how focused we are right now.”

Desperate New York tried everything to change the script. Nothing worked.

Kenyon Martin played 29 minutes and J.R. Smith logged 31½ despite missing practice Sunday and Monday because they were ill. Guard Iman Shumpert started even with a sore and swollen left knee that had the Knicks so worried they brought an orthopedic doctor to Indy to examine it Tuesday. The doctor determined there was no structural damage.

Amar’e Stoudemire was called for four fouls in 11-plus minutes in his second game back since March 7 and had only four points and four rebounds.

NBA scoring champion Carmelo Anthony finished with 24 points before fouling out with 2 minutes left in the game after shooting 9-for-23 from the field. He took only four shots in the fourth quarter and was held without a basket over the final 12 minutes for the second straight game.

Spurs 109, Warriors 91•SAN ANTONIO — Tony Parker had 25 points and 10 assists, Tim Duncan had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and San Antonio took a 3-2 series lead over Golden State in its Western Conference semifinals matchup.

The Spurs led 54-51 at halftime and used a 29-21 third-quarter advantage to pull away from the Warriors, who were led by Harrison Barnes 25 points.

The Spurs held Mark Jackson’s self-proclaimed “greatest shooting backcourt” in NBA history to 6-for-22 shooting. Stephen Curry finished with nine points, going 1-for-7 on 3-pointers, and Klay Thompson was held to four while not even attempting a 3.

MONTREAL — It’s a big deal to play or coach hockey in Montreal and Toronto, and for first-year Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, it’s bound to be extra special because it will be his first time in those historic Original Six markets. Indeed, the Canadian native from Yorkton, Saskatchewan, has never been to the Bell Centre or Air Canada Centre — where...

Shortly before the season began, Holmes, who had been dealing with a nagging hip since September, finally went in to get an X-ray to get the injury addressed. That X-ray revealed a mass on his hip, and following a biopsy, doctors diagnosed Holmes with Osteosarcoma.